New steel tubing and pipe manufacturing plant will create 100 jobs in Lawrence County

TRINITY, Alabama – Governor Robert Bentley said today that IT-TRI LLC plans to invest up to $68 million to build a new steel tubing and pipe manufacturing plant in Lawrence County, creating 100 jobs in Trinity before 2016.

“On the state and local levels, we are committed to attracting more jobs to Lawrence County and to all of Alabama,” Governor Bentley said. “We have the best workforce of any state in the country. We have good people who are ready to work hard and help this company succeed.

“I appreciate the investment that IT-TRI is making in Lawrence County,” Governor Bentley added. “And I want people to know that our efforts to recruit more jobs will continue until everyone who needs a job is able to find one.”

Rick Werner, the company’s president, said IT-TRI expects to break ground on the project this fall and to begin operations at the Lawrence County facility by the end of 2014.

“Having two raw material suppliers in Alabama, Nucor Steel in Decatur and U.S. Steel in Birmingham, and due to the growing Southern demand for pipe, the company began looking at sites in the Southeast United States for this new plant,” Werner said. “The ease of dealing with the Industrial Development Board of Lawrence County and the State of Alabama helped solidify the company’s decision to acquire 75 acres in the Mallard Fox West Industrial Complex in Lawrence County.

“The responsiveness that we received from Governor Bentley and the Alabama Department of Commerce was outstanding,” Werner added. “Working with the Industrial Development Board and the local officials in Lawrence County ensured that all of our anticipated needs have been met. We are looking forward to hiring from an excellent local talent pool recruited and trained in cooperation with AIDT.”

AIDT is the Alabama Industrial Development Training Program. AIDT connects people with employment opportunities and provides highly-specialized training for those individuals. Governor Bentley frequently cites AIDT as a valuable tool that helps him recruit more jobs to Alabama. AIDT works with a variety of industries throughout the state and is a division of the Alabama Department of Commerce. (Read a story about AIDT’s partnership with Mercedes-Benz.)

Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said the AIDT program contributes to the positive business climate in Alabama. He added that the department stands ready to assist the company in any future expansions.

“Our goal is to attract more jobs and to help companies succeed,” Secretary Canfield said. “We are working every day with prospective employers and with cities and counties that are looking to recruit industries. Governor Bentley has made job creation his top priority, and we are committed to showing companies all the advantages of doing business here in Alabama.”

Tony Stockton, executive director of the Lawrence County Industrial Development Board, said IT-TRI LLC is the board’s latest partner in developing the Mallard Fox West Industrial Complex.

“The promise of 100 jobs is exciting, and the entire county will benefit from this excellent industry locating here,” Stockton said. “Our industrial development team has worked extremely hard to make this project a reality, and we’re anxious to have the facility operational in 2014. I also want to thank Representative Ken Johnson and Senator Paul Bussman for their dedicated support of economic development in Lawrence County and their leadership in helping us bring IT-TRI LLC to Mallard Fox West.”

“We have worked hard to make Lawrence County an attractive place to do business, and we are pleased to welcome IT-TRI LLC to the county,” Rep. Johnson (R-Moulton) said. “This announcement of 100 new jobs for our community is only the beginning, and I will continue to work to bring more companies, more jobs and more opportunities to Lawrence County.”

“The focus of the legislative delegation in Lawrence County is to create an environment to provide new jobs,” added Senator Bussman (R-Cullman), whose district includes most of Lawrence County. ”This project will be a tremendous benefit for our community. We will continue to aggressively look for more opportunities to provide quality employment for the people of Lawrence County.”

The hiring process is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2014, according to the Lawrence County Industrial Development Board.

In 2011 and 2012, more than 6,000 jobs were announced in Lawrence County and the counties surrounding it, including Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Limestone, Marion, Morgan and Winston. These jobs were announced by new and expanding industries such as the Jack Daniel Cooperagein Lawrence County (200 jobs), automotive supplier Busche Alabama in Hartselle (200 jobs) and plastic film and sheet producer Polyplex USA in Decatur. (150 jobs).